US2660797A - Reel timer - Google Patents

Description

4 Sheets-Sheet l I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I -I tiff :I LJ

Iz f

I I I flwfi K C. MINGHONE REEL TIMER Filed June 30, 1950 Dec- 1, 1953 c. MINGloNE 2,660/7 97 A TTORNEY Dec. 1, 1953 c. MlNGloNE 2660,797

REEL TIMER Filed June 30, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Dec. 1, 1953 c. MINGloNE 2,660,797

Patened Dec. 1, 1953 sf'PATENT OFFICE REELnuER oariMingionDetmit, M1011.

Application June 30, 1950, Serial No. 171,461

My invention relates to av timing unit for moving picture projector machine operations.

The object of my invention is to provide means for accurately determining the actual consumption time for light are-carbon units, or sections thereof, as are used within picture projector machines.

Another object is to produce an indicator unit that will predetermine the actual Operating time required for any chosen film reel.

A further object is to produce a carbon consumption indicator for measuring the comparative duration periods for both the positive and negative are-carbon units, in terms of the chosen film reel duration.

-These several objects are attained in the preferred form by the construction and arrangement of parts as are more fully hereinafter set forth.

Similar parts on'all drawings are marked by similar numerals or letters.

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the film reel time indidator, showing the general arrangement of the various Operating parts.

Fig. 2 is an edge view of the assembled unit showing the indicator slide bar and attached indicator means.

Fig. 3 is an end view of the film reel indicator, showing the relative position of the assembled operative units, and attaching means for the reel magazine.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the positive are-carbon indicator, showing the time graduations and means for mounting the unit on projector machine supports.

Fig. 5 is an edge view of the assembledinclicator in the Fig. 4, showing the general construction of the transparent means for retaining the indicator graduations therein.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the negative arc-car'bon indicator, also showing the time graduations, and means for mounting same.

Fig. .7 is an edge view of the Fig. 6, showing the assembled formation.

Fig. 8 is a plan view illustrating an assembled film reel indicator unit as mounted on an upper reel magazine of a projector machine, positioned.

for indicating the required time for the projector exposure.

Fig. 9 is an illustrative elevation of both the positive and negative light are-carbon as mounted within a projector machine, showing the respective carbon consumption indicators and the con-` V v1 olaim. (cl. sa-ism" Figs. 10 and 11 are modified elevation views of the former positive are-carbon indicator shown in the Fig. 4, illustrating modified duration characters as may be applied to the respective'indilcator scales, and reel timer.

I will now describe more fully thev detailed construction of my device, referring to the drawings and the marks thereon.

It is known that the moving picture projector machines now in common use are designed for receiving rotatably mounted film reels thereon, which are reflected through special projector lens by means of powerful are-carbon lights, of standard design. The are-carbon units comprise a positive and a negative carbon elements E and F, usually mounted within adjustable slide supports X, positioned in alignment so the adjacent carbon ends may be adjusted to predetermined spacings as an electric current is passed therethrough. Both carbon units being illustrated as automatically adjusted by special projector operating mechanism Y and Z, operatively connected to the respective are-carbon unit caps W, as is illustrated in the Fig. 9 of the drawings. The positive arc-carbon unit being consumed much lfaster than the negative unit, requires a unit of a greater length for uniform consumption. It is known by picture projector operators that film reels vary in length according to the actual film exposure, and therefore require different time lengths for projector reproduction and that the rapidly consumed arc-carbon units must beof sufficient length to continue said film reel projection without interruption, or break therein.V Further, that projector machines often retain unused Sections of are-carbon which may, or mayA not, be of sufficient length for the following film reel, but which is easily and accurately determined by my new consumption indicator and reel timer, and without removing any parts from the projector.

In general, my invention is a special lattachment for film reel projector machines, comprising a reel timer indicator A for predetermining the time duration of any chosen reel, together with special are-carbon consumption indicators C a'nd D, for predetermining the duration of both the 'positive and negative light carbon unitsl mounted within the projector, and for synchronizing the time Operations of all units.`

The film reel indicator A frame is preferably made of two thin sheets I and 2 of transparent material, such as plastic or like material, and carries mounted therebetween a thin, graduated.

time indicator sheet 3, tightly clamped therein by means of screws 4 or other suitable means. Along one side a of the reel indicator frame A, at opposite ends thereof, are mounted double, adjustable, frame yokes 5 and 6 positioned at right angles to the edge a and projected outward therefrom, said frame yokes being retained fixedly in their adjusted positions, by special clamp screws 7. Within the outer projected ends of said frames 5 and 6, is mounted a slide bar 8, preferably rectangular in cross-section, positioned parallel with said frame edge a, and fixedly clamped therein by screws 3a. Slidably mounted over the bar 8 is an adjustable indicator frame 9, designed to project across the open space between said bar and the frame edge a 'and `oarries an extended indicator needle :1:4 fixedly mounted therein and projected therefrom to extend over the frame A upper surface, at right angles -to the frame side a. rthe frame 9 is adjustable along the slide 'bar 8 nearly the full length thereof within the frame yohes V5 and 6. Positioned 'central'ly between the frame side a and the slide 8, and'paral'lel therewitn, are fixedly mounted ;slide bearings H) and li, and which reoeives therein an adjustable indicator rod 12. fiaid indicator rod 12 is frmed with 'a threaded end section c mounted through a central recess formed -in the indicator frame 9,. and is'fixedly clamped thereto by the lock nuts 13. The frame 9 and attached indicator' needle I are displaced directly with the indicator rod [2, moving said needle 14 along the graduated indicator sheet 3 for the full length thereof. The indicator rod '2 isv designed and positioned to .slide within thebearingl i, projeoting from frame A end a pre-determined distance, land when not in use, it may be disp-laced to a closed position within the bearing 10, and is fixedly retained 'by a .spring lock catch 1:5 designed to engage therewith. The opposite frame A end is designed with a .curved end wall d, formed to fit and engage .a picture projector vfil'in reel magazine B, vpositioned with the indicator rod 1:2 on a radial line through the magazine center, and is securely attached to .said magazine walls by special bracket members 16 and t'i, 'by suitableibolts L8, or by any other suitable means, as illustrated in the Fig. 8 of the drawings. indicator rod V12 is displaced through the magazine Wall side opening, directly opposite the upper reel magazine compartment, and adjusted therein to contact the film reel hub center e, and the needle 14 adj'usted to the zero point on the graduated' indicatorl sheet 3, designed to engage and measure the operation duration, of any reel film as may be wound thereon. The standard 'reel hubs e are usually made either four, orv five, inches in diameter. The graduated time indicator sheet 3 is designed with a series of parallel lines r, for both the four and five inch ree' hubs, each graduation line r indicating a predetermined number of feet of film. as may be rolled on the respective reel hub e, herein graduated' as ninety feet, and' which in ordinary projector machines require approximately one. minute ofl time for projection exposure, and the graduation numerals are placed Qhposite the consecutive graduation lines on4 the indicator sheet 3, representing the actual time in mimites, for comparative film reel proiection exnosures, and as indicated by the needle M when said slide rod l2 is displaced within the magazine chamber to the reel film surface g as may be then` wound on the reel central hub e, either the four,

or the five inch, hub, as the case may be, and as indicated in the Fig. 8 of the drawings.

The carbon consumption indicator is formed of two Sections C' and D, designed separately for both the positive and the negative are-carbon light units, and are preferably formed of two thin sheet strips |9 and 20, of some suitable transparent material, such as plastic as in the film reel indicator, and carry graduated time indicator sheets h, land k mounted therebetween, said sheet Sections being retained united by cementing the respective sheets together, or by suitable bolts, as may be desired. The positive carbon consumption indicator C is of a greater length than the negative unit D, corresponding 'to 'the respective are-carbon unit lengths. The graduations m of the positive indicator unit C, are spaced to represent the actual consumption time, by one minute spaces, for the connected positive arc-carbon unit E as indicated by the adjoinmgnumerals n. rfhe .corresponding graduation lines p of. the negative are-carbon unit D are designed to two :minute spaces, andl as represented 'by the adjoining numerals q. The dual indicator sections C and D are each formed With end slots 2| and 22, respectively, providing means for fixedly attaching said graduated indicator units on the picture .projector machine, directly opposite the correspond-ing positive and negative are-carbon units E and F, and as .indicated in the Fig. 9 of the drawings, and adj'usted thereon to the carbon end -cap indicator needles v7.3, positioned to coincide with the graduated indicator uzero point, for the minimum carbon stub operation. Both graduated carbon consumption indicators lEan'd F are provided with at least three "zero" points, provided for varying carbon pre-arcing during normal pre-heating of the lighting unit, and which may be variable for different grades of carbon, 'or diiferent'electric currents used therewith. The Hreading 'on the respective indicator graduations represent .the actual consumption time of the respective remainfing 'carbon stubs.

lThe actual duration graduations of both the film reel and the arc-carbon consumption indicators, may also Vbe represented by teet' or :by symbolsf as is illustrated in the Figs. 10 and ll of 'the drawings, so long as 'each 'space represents comparative consumption periods of the film duration, on of the respective indicators.

In installing and Operating my device, 'the carbon consmnption indicators C andv D are fixedly attached to the projector machine frame `members, positioned directly opposite the respective are-carbon units E andF, 'by suitable attaching means as may be mounted through the end slots 2| and 22, and thereon a'djnsted with their zer-o gradiration points opp'ositeV the respective indicator needles 23 When displaced to the minimum carbon stub usable therein. film reel. 'indicator A Iis fixedly attached to the proj'eciior upper reel magazine as previously described. 'For determining if the :remaining 'proiector are-carbon stubs E and F' are' sufficient for complete operat'mn of a chosenfilm reel :as may be mounted' within the projecto-r upper magazine, the .indicator rod |2 is ejected within the reel chamber until contaeted with the film: surface as may be wound on said reel. Thereadingof. theV indicator: needle- M, either f-or the four, or tl'iev five hubs as the case mayy be, will dise'lese the estimatednnerating time required thereforcomparison of the. correspondng time graduations on the respective positive and;A negati'vecarbon consumption indicators C and D as indicated by the needles 23, it can be determined if the remaining are-carbon stubs are of sufficient length for operation of the chosen film reel, or if replacement thereof with new oarbons is required.

l-laving fully described my carbon consumption indication and reel timer, what I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A reel timer adapted for synohronizing the picture reel film Within a supporting reel drum with the light are-carbon units of a picture projector machine, and used therewith, comprising a rectangular base plate formed of dual transparent sections rigidly clamped together and formed with suitable mounting brackets at one end thereof for attaching to a reel drum, a slide bar fixedly mounted along one base plate side wall, parallel therewith, an indicator frame with needle, slidably mounted on said slide bar, an adjustable film detector rod rigidly mounted on said indicator frame and projected beyond the base plate section end for a predetermined length and engageable with the reel film surface, and time indicator scales mounted between the dual transparent base plate seotions positioned parallel With the slide bar, said indicator scales being graduated to indicate time durations" of the contacted moving picture reel film.

CARL MINGIONE.

References Cited in the fileof this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 967,151 Allen Aug". 16, 1910 1,090,128 Avers Mar. 17, 1914 1,159,920 Fretzdorf Nov. 9, 1915 1,208,646 Power Dec. 12, 1916 1,235,'785 Fiskel Aug. 7, 1917 1,538,510 Bonk May 19, 1925 1,583,656- Chapman et al. May 4, 1926 2,125,148 Brenkert July 26, 1938 2,224,728 Gulliksen Dec. 19, 1940

Images